In their first game action since the state semifinals from last season, the Winfield-Mount Union Wolves took down the Central City Wildcats in the week one edition of the KCII Area Game of the Week, 40-28. The Wolves wasted no time out of the gate, completing a seven-play, 41-yard drive that saw Quarterback Jake Edwards convert a 4th and 12 from the 31-yard line of Central City into a touchdown when he connected with fellow Senior Lane Genkinger. After a Genkinger fumble recovery on the insuing Wildcat drive, the Wolves would again find the end zone via a five-yard plunge from Genkinger. WMU would outscore Central City 14-0 after the first quarter, outgaining them in yardage 69-60. Later in the half, Edwards found Running Back Nicholas Sparrow for a 20-yard scoring connection to make it 20-0 Wolves at the half. However, Central City came out of the locker rooms with authority, as they marched down the field in three plays when Quarterback Matthew Klostermann scampered into the end zone from 21 yards out to draw closer. WMU was able to respond with a four-play, 30-yard drive that ended in a miraculous tip drill catch from 27 yards away courtesy of Tight End Max Edwards. The scoring kept up for Central City, though, as Klostermann did his magic again, this time from 32 yards away to draw closer again. Both teams would score once more in the third to make it 34-22 headed to the fourth. With a comeback on their minds, the Wildcats clawed back to just a six-point deficit as Josh Lindsey ran in a score from 42 yards away. Central City needed a stop on defense, but the following WMU drive was a dagger. Genkinger scored from 11 yards away to complete an 11-play, 55-yard drive that sealed the week one victory for Scott McCarty’s team.

Despite being outgained in total yardage 273-259, WMU was still able to come away with the victory. Jake Edwards was 14/19 for 187 yards and three touchdowns through the air, while Lane Genkinger and Nicholas Sparrow combined for 21 carries for 62 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Genkinger, Max Edwards, and Sparrow had a combined 14 catches for 187 yards and three touchdowns, one apiece. Genkinger owned the only takeaway of the night for WMU. Matthew Klostermann led Central City through the air with a 3/4 night for 28 yards. Klostermann led the rushing attack for the Wildcats with 19 carries for 147 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Josh Lindsey had five carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns to compliment Klostermann. Dashny Munyakazi had two receptions for 17 yards.

WMU Head Coach Scott McCarty joined KCII Sports postgame to talk about his team’s victory in week one. “We felt pretty good in the first half. We were able to do some things. Found some things that could work in the run game. Hit some play action passes when we needed to. Our guys did a good job of executing it.”

With the win, Winfield-Mount Union raises their record to 1-0 on the young season, while Central City falls to 0-2. The KCII Area Game of the Week will resume next Friday night, with a matchup between Wapello and Columbus.